Fun fact: most of the matter in the universe is made up of cat hair. My cat's hair.

It's on this Friday! If you are in Brisbane please join us.

Arguably, garden shears are a non sequitur.

I think I am only going to submit to journals with 'review' in their name. I am going for the full set.

I once wrote an ekphrastic poem about a painting that doesn't exist.

I got so excited I got the date wrong - 24 OCTOBER! Be there!

Gardening on Mars, the new book from Jane Frank is out now through Shearsman Books! I can't speak highly enough about Jane's poetry. If you are in Brisbane on 26 October, come join us at Avid Reader for Jane's Launch. The details are avidreader.com.au/pages/12930-... I hope to see you there.

I was only in it once in 25 attempts but that publication was one of my proudest - very sad to see Meanjin go.

Since 2019, one Australian journal has rejected me 11 times. Should I give up?

If you are going to reject my poetry, take a couple of days. Don't reject me in 24 hours - it makes me wonder if you read the poems at all.

Looking forward to attending Victoria Kennefick's workshops on 02 August and 09 August. There might still be spots available. If you are interested, find the details here: queenslandwriters.org.au/events/strok...

Should poetry be memorable?

I have been feeling down about poetry lately - wondering what is the point of working so hard when no one is reading any of it. Then I read a new book from one of my good friends - and it's so good, I was inspired to pull out the pencil and write some lines.

What monster includes the heading in the line count?

It turns out that I am a member of the poetry bourgeoisie because my poems mostly don't rhyme. I stumbled across an exchange where I was described as a member of 'academia' and my poetry a jumble of random words and obscure references. Should I feel insulted?

My poem ‘False Pastoral’ received 2nd Prize in the Plough Art Centre’s Poetry Prize. You can see me reading it at www.theploughartscentre.org.uk/poetry-prize.... Great to see @triciadearborn.bsky.social in amongst the Highly Commended. Thankyou to @pascalepetit.bsky.social for choosing my poem

Everywhere I went on my travels in Ireland I came across poetry: memorials, centres, museums, quotes in public places, posters, even water-bottles. Why can't Australia have the same respect for its writers? Imagine a bottle of water with Patrick White's face on it! ...Maybe not.

This was a nice surprise.

If you missed it (like me), my poem 'I Followed a Dollar' was recently in The Weekend Australia Review'. My thanks to Jaya Savage for choosing my poem.

Issue 17 of StylusLit is now available for reading. It contains great poems, books reviews and interviews, including one with me! Read it, if you want to learn unnecessary things about my childhood....oh and a poem about native bees and fascists. Find it all here: styluslit.com

How is it a journal can reach their monthly submission cap on the same day that they open?

To all editors: even if you hate the poems, please allow a week to go by before rejecting them. Please do not reject them within 24 hours. Leave us our dignity!

9 poems won't go into 4 (or 3). Which ones should I get rid of and which ones should I read? What it Might Take 123m The Puzzle Piece The Plot The Everything and All Pulling Out the Tablecloth The Devil's Wife Love and Other Junk Your Bones of Glass

Calanthe Poetry know how to conduct a poetry reading!

This Saturday: Lattes & Love on the Lawn at Blussh Romance Festival! 📅 Saturday 15 February, 8.30-9.30am 📍 The Lawn at South/City/SQ, Brisbane More info + tickets: blusshromancefestival.com/program/latt...

A stanza of poets in attendance for the Calanthe Poetry evening at the Zamia theatre on Tamborine Mountain last night. Margaret Clifford (standing), Jane Frank, David Terelinck, and guest poet Damen O'Brien. More photos to follow soon. www.calanthepress.com.au #poetry #poetryreading

Check out the latest from Cordite - a great selection of poems on the theme of 'Space' - includes a fun poem of mine about a flying squid. Thankyou to Alicia Sometimes for including me.

It's this Friday! Don't forget to RSVP. I would love to see you there!!

My #LiftToTheSky today as part of the lovely initiative by @brokenspinearts.bsky.social is @poetbex.bsky.social - and especially this superb bit of writing. The abcd..... form can look so contrived - imho it almost isn't noticeable here because the poem is so good!!!!

I'm delighted to share the news that my new poetry collection, Dorothy Hewett Award shortlisted 'The Hum Hearers' is now available to pre-order ahead of the launch in March! www.facebook.com/share/p/1CxS...

Join me and one of the most vibrant and welcoming poetry communities for a reading up on the mountain. Details in the picture.

And here is 'Manganese' in case you're a tea aficionado and would like to read it 🫖

@wendypratt.bsky.social’s Blackbird Singing at Dusk - both the whole book and the title poem - just excellent! I keep excitedly reading bits out to Eloise while she tries to do her homework 🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛

In the spirit of end of year summaries: I wrote about 100 poems this year. Of those, I think there are about 10 pretty good ones. Of those, there are probably 3 I think are worthy of boasting about. Incidentally, my typical acceptance rate is about 9 in 100 poems.

This is going to be fantastic!

My copy of Grieve turned up. Moving stories and poems from Australian writers. Here is one of mine which I am proud of - please ignore the typo!

It is a rare honour to receive a such a thoughtful and insightful review of Walking the Boundary by Magdalena Ball for the site, Compulsive Reader. Check it out here: compulsivereader.com/2024/12/13/a... While you are there, take a look at some of the other amazing reviews.

My experience is that the more you publish poetry, the less time you have to write any of it. This appears to be an exponential curve.

you ever unsure of what to do so you just reread Brigit Pegeen Kelly until the thing you’re waiting for happens

I remember the first time I read Nikki Giovanni’s “Allowables” — being overcome by the extraordinary thing she taught me about my own fear, its murderousness. And she did this not by standing above me, but by turning quietly and saying: see what we did?

Tomorrow, remember to compliment your closest poet. They really need it, the poor things. Quote a line. Do some research if you have to. Google.

"I tried to ask my parents to leave the room, but not my life. It was very hard. Because the room was the size of my life." Love this one from @chenchenwrites.bsky.social's book, When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities: bookshop.org/a/862/978194... #poem #poets #chenchen #books

5 rejections (that's 15 poems), 1 acceptance, 1 remittance and 1 contract today. The life of a poet.

My poem, 'The Cuts' has just been published in London Grip alongside many great poems, including one by fellow Australian, Jena Woodhouse. Read 'The Cuts' here: londongrip.co.uk/2024/11/lond...

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I'm always surprised if people haven't heard @ilyakaminsky.bsky.social's poems from The Deaf Republic. Reading this opening poems again, today, it strikes me so powerfully yet again & again, in its continuous relevance: www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/91413/...

Great to share in the awards with Sean West. Here am I with my first prize in the Val Vallis Award. Sean is holding their Thomas Shapcott Runner Up Award. Can't wait for them to put a book out.

One of my very favorite poems to share. I hope that some of you are reading this for the first time. #poetry

I have been sitting on this news for a while but I have won the Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize! I will be in Ireland in April and May 2025, so if any of my Irish poetry friends would like to catch up or have me along for a reading or a workshop please reach out!